Device for linking a window lifter arm to the movable window pane of a motor vehicle

ABSTRACT

A device for connecting at least one window lifter arm to a two-sided displaceable window pane in a motor vehicle. The device includes a profiled guiding section adapted to be fixed to one edge of such window pane, a slider slidably mounted in the profiled guiding section and adapted to be fixed to the at least one window lifter arm, at least two stops molded in the profiled guiding section for engaging said one edge of such window pane during assembly, at least two spaced apart clamping areas molded in the profiled guiding section and adapted to contact one side of the window pane, at least two separate clamping jaws supported on the profiled guiding section, each clamping jaw being associated with an opposing different one of said at least two clamping areas and being adapted to contact the other side of the window pane, at least two sets of supporting points being formed between each of the separate clamping jaws and the opposing clamping area, and tensioning means to tension the window pane between the at least two clamping areas and the associated at least two separate clamping jaws.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to a device for connecting a window lifter arm toa movable window pane of a motor vehicle.

DE 31 08 244 A1 describes a snap-fitting connecting device between awindow pane of a motor vehicle and a window pane lifter. The window panelifter consists of two interconnected channel-like profiled sections ofwhich one encloses an area of the lower edge of the pane and is fixed tosame. The other downwardly open profiled section supports at its endsinwardly aligned hooks which can enter into engagement with projectionsof angled elements of the lifter device whereby a keyed connection canbe produced. The connecting elements are snapped in forcefully by movingthe window pane against the upper stop position whereby at the sametime, the window pane is automatically aligned in the frame structureand additional manual adjustments are not necessary during fitting.

Since however the profile-like coupling element has to be pre-fitted onthe lower edge of the pane, the thicker structure resulting therefromnormally leads to difficult insertion of the window pane into the doorshaft. As a result of the necessarily missing seal in this area toaccommodate the thicker structure of the pane, during fitting, there isalways the risk of damage to the paintwork. A further problem is in thesmall tolerances which are required in the snap-in area of the couplingelement in order to avoid operating noises when moving the windowlifter.

A variation which is very similar to that described above and havingsimilar disadvantages is known from the JP A 6-135228. The elementsfixed on the lower edge of the window pane have at their free endsconical abutment-like areas associated with the U-profiled connectingelements of the window lifter. They also have inclined guides with whichthe conical areas of the elements fixed on the window pane can enterinto engagement. When bringing the connecting elements together, thearms of the U-profiled sections are elastically spread out. At the endof the fitting process, inwardly aligned hooks provided at the free endsof the U profiled sections engage over the projections of the conicalabutment-like areas of the other elements. However there is the drawbackthat the part of the connecting element fixed on the window pane andangled away from the edge of the pane shortens the lift which cantheoretically be carried out.

From DE 29 23 039 C2 a lift rail is known which is fixed by adhesive inthe area of the lower edge of the window pane whereby the sliders of thelever arms of a cross-arm window lifter are displaceable guided in thelower part of the lift rail designed as a C section. The connectionbetween the window lifter and the window pane is produced by screwconnections. Also, the fitting of this lifter rail is provided outsideof the door.

U.S. Pat. No 4,866,895 describes a connecting device with a one-pieceplastics part which can be attached in the area of the lower edge of thepane and clips in through a hole in the pane. This plastics part has onboth sides resilient wings associated with recesses in the lifter railin which the wings engage at the end of assembly. The drawback with thissolution is in the comparatively weak load-bearing ability of theconnecting device since the plastics is inclined to flow at hightemperatures and can thus only transfer weak draw forces.

The connecting device known from JP A 6 221052 is likewise a plasticspart which can be fixed by clipping into a hole in the lower edge of thepane. Fixing the lifter rail is carried out by a screw which is screwedthrough the plastics part and through the hole in the pane. Thissolution has the drawback that adjusting the window pane is riotpossible during its assembly through the connecting elements.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment of the invention, it is possible to provide adevice for connecting a window lifter arm to the displaceable windowpane of a motor vehicle which, through simple means, allows the fittingand simultaneous adjustment of a window pane inside the vehicle doorwherein the window pane carries no prefitted add-on parts.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a device is provided forconnecting at least one window lifter arm to a two-sided displaceablewindow pane in a motor vehicle. The device includes a profiled guidingsection adapted to be fixed to one edge of such window pane, a sliderslidably mounted in the profiled guiding section and adapted to be fixedto the at least one window lifter arm, at least two stops molded in theprofiled guiding section for engaging said one edge of such window paneduring assembly, at least two spaced apart clamping areas molded in theprofiled guiding section and adapted to contact one side of the windowpane, at least two separate clamping jaws supported on the profiledguiding section, each clamping jaw being associated with an opposingdifferent one of said at least two clamping areas and being adapted tocontact the other side of the window pane, at least two sets ofsupporting points being formed between each of the separate clampingjaws and the opposing clamping area, and tensioning means to tension thewindow pane between the at least two clamping areas and the associatedat least two separate clamping jaws.

According to another embodiment, not only are the guide channels orguide slides, with which the sliders or rollers fixed at the ends of thelifter are in keyed, displaceable connection, molded on the profiledguiding section, or guide profile, but in addition, at least two spacedclamping areas are integrated in one piece. A separate clamping jaw anda tension means such as a screw are associated with the clamping area.The window pane is inserted between the clamping areas of the profiledguiding section and the separate clamping jaws until its edge strikesagainst associated stops in the profiled guiding section. Aftertensioning the connecting device, the window pane is fixed with frictionengagement.

The profiled guiding section can, like the separate clamping jaws, bemade for example of steel as a punched/stamped part. In this case, anelastic material with high coefficient of friction is mounted in the gapbetween the clamping area and clamping jaw and encloses the edge of thepane on both sides in this area. Rubber has proved particularly suitablefor this.

The profiled guiding section can however also be formed as a plasticspart wherein at least the clamping areas ought to be formed in theousert technique in order to be able to transfer the forces which occur.

A simple secure fitting is then guaranteed if the clamping jaw mountedon the side of the guide rail and which rests directly on the surface ofthe window pane protrudes beyond the contour of the remaining areasabove the stops of the profiled guiding section. It is then avoided thatthe profiled guiding section can enter into contact outside of theclamping areas with the side faces of the pane which strongly reducesthe risk of the window breaking or unsatisfactory fixing. If it isimportant to ensure the window is fixed with the smallest possiblestructural thickness, then the clamping areas of the profiled guidingsection should be molded on the profiled guiding section above the guidearea. It is thereby possible to place the guide area at least in partunderneath the edge of the pane.

When connecting a window pane with a full-length straight horizontaledge, the clamping axis formed by the supporting points between theprofiled guiding section and clamping jaws, as well as the supportingpoints between window pane and profiled guiding section or clampingjaws, and on which the tension screw also lies, runs substantiallyvertical. The designated clamping axis can however also runsubstantially horizontally if the contour of the window pane on whichthe profiled guiding section is to be connected runs vertically. With acut in the lower edge of the pane to form a fixing wing which isprovided for fixing a suitable projection, such a connection can takeplace without a loss of lift height.

A further preferred variation of the invention for a cross-arm windowlifter proposes to mount only the first clamping area on the edge of theprofiled guiding section which lies on the side of the guide slide for aslider of a lever arm or--with the presence of two guide slides--on theside of the longer guide slide. The second clamping area is mountedbetween the guide slide and articulated point of the other lever arm orbetween the two guide slides. The length of the connecting deviceaccording to the invention is thereby restricted to the absoluterequired dimension.

In order to ensure a simplified fitting of the window pane duringassembly, the profiled guiding section supports a spring acting in thedisplacement of the window pane wherein the spring should have thelargest possible distance from the center of gravity of the window pane.The spring forms one of the two bearing points for the edge of the paneand is not, or not so strongly deformed by the weight of the paneoccurring there that the edge of the pane lies on the stop.

In order to build on the desired advantages of the spring, thestructural design of the window lifter system should be such that thepane contour lying above the spring enters into the window frame beforethe contour lying on the other side. With a further increase in thepressure, the spring is deformed increasingly until also the panecontour of the other side adjoins the frame. The clamping connections inclamping areas can then be tensioned which completes the assembly andadjustment process. The spring path is to be preselected according tothe tolerances expected.

The spring is preferably mounted directly in the clamping area. It can,for example, be formed as a leaf spring and can be fixed on specialfeatures of the profiled guiding section, such as stop wings, whereinthese features serve at the same time as end stops. There is, however,also the possibility of integrating the spring in the base area ofU-shaped rubber element which engages around the lower edge of the paneand is supported on the profiled guiding section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be explained with reference to the embodimentsillustrated in the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a variation of the connectingdevice according to the invention with a cross-arm window lifter;

FIG. 2 is an illustration on a larger scale of the connecting device ofFIG. 1 in a view turned by 180 degs;

FIG. 3a is a diagrammatic illustration of a connecting device withhorizontally aligned clamping axis and window pane with a fixing wing;

FIG. 3b is a connecting device according to FIG. 3a after fitting; and

FIG. 4 is a view of a connecting device with two guide slides and aslider which engages in a guide rail running in the draw direction withthe device shown in a raised and a lowered position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to the embodiment of the connecting device according to theinvention and shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the device consists of a profiledguiding section, or guide profile, 1 with a guide channel 11 for aslider 110 of one lever arm 6a, and a bearing socket 12 for a bearingbolt 120 of another lever arm 6b, two separate clamping jaws 2,associated with the clamping areas 10a, 10b which are molded in onepiece on the profiled guiding section 1, and screws 15 for tensioningthe clamping jaws 2 and clamping areas 10a, 10b. Furthermore profiledrubber sections 3 are provided which bear between the clamping areas10a, 10b and the clamping jaws 2 and are fitted on the upper free endsthereof.

The profiled guiding section 1 illustrated is a one-piecestamped/impressed part of steel and integrates in addition to thefunction areas already mentioned, namely clamping areas 10a, 10b, guidechannel 11 and bearing socket 12, also includes stops 13, 14 for theedge of the pane as well as the eyelets 121 (FIG. 2), which form inconjunction with the noses 21, an anti-rotation lock for the separateclamping jaws 2. Whereas the stop 13 is designed as an imprinted area ofthe profiled guiding section 1, the stop 14 consists of a pair of wingswhich are bent out of the material in the direction of the separateclamping jaw 2 and flank of the clamping area 10b on each side. Theyserve at the same time to hold a leaf spring 4 which is curved towardsthe window pane and which serves as a stop for the lower edge of thepane.

Above the stops 13, 14, the clamping areas 10a, 10b of the profiledguiding section 1 protrude furthest in the direction of the separateclamping jaws 2. By using profiled rubber sections 3 whose inner faces31, 32 act on the window pane as clamping faces, the actual clampingface lies in front of all the other areas of the profiled guidingsection 1. It is thereby ensured that the window pane is only clamped inthe clamping area 10a, 10b. Other contacts with the profiled guidingsection 1 could lead to assembly errors or even to breakage of thewindow pane.

The separate clamping jaws 2 can also be formed as imprinted parts andhave a front clamping face 20. Between the nose 21 and the clamping face20 is a nut 215 for example, a welded nut or a pressed-in nut, having athreaded opening 200 in which the screw 15 is turned so that it passesthrough the opening 100 underneath the clamping area 10a, 10b. Ontightening the screw connection 15, 215, the clamping jaw 2 is supportedin the area of its nose 21 on the profiled guiding section 1. On theother hand, the clamping areas 10a, 10b and 20 are pressed with theinterposition of the profiled rubber section 3 onto the surfaces of thewindow pane. The clamping axis formed by the clamping areas 10a, 10b, 20and the screw 15 or nut 215 and the eyelet 121 and nose 21 is associatedwith a pane edge running substantially orthogonal thereto on which theclamping fastening is to take place.

The cross arm window lifter consists of the base plate 62, a motor gearunit 63 mounted thereon whose drive pinion (not shown) engages in theteeth of a tooth segment 61 which is likewise fixed on the base plate 62to swivel in the rotary joint 600. The toothed segment 61 is in fixedconnection with the lever arm 6a whose opposite end supports on a bolt111 and the slider 110 which is mounted displaceable in the guidechannel 11 wherein the bolt 111 supporting the slider 110 passes througha slide area 11a. The other lever arm 6b, having a slider 550 mounted ina guide channel 55 of a guide rail 5, is mounted in a rotary joint 60and locks the bearing bolt 120 on the other side in the bearing socket12 of the profiled guiding section 1.

In order to ensure a simplified fitting of the window pane duringassembly, the profiled guiding section supports spring 4 acting in thedisplacement of the window pane wherein the spring 4 should have thelargest possible distance from the center of gravity of the window pane.The spring 4 forms one of the two bearing points for the edge of thepane and is not, or not so strongly deformed by the weight of the paneoccurring there that the edge of the pane lies on the stop.

In order to build on the desired advantages of the spring, thestructural design of the window lifter system should be such that thepane contour lying above the spring 4 enters into the window framebefore the contour lying on the other side. With a further increase inthe pressure, the spring 4 is deformed increasingly until also the panecontour of the other side adjoins the frame. The clamping connections inclamping areas 10a, 10b can then be tensioned which completes theassembly and adjustment process. The spring path is to be preselectedaccording to the tolerances expected.

The spring is preferably mounted directly in the clamping area 10b. Itcan, for example, be formed as a leaf spring and can be fixed on specialfeatures of the profiled guiding section, such as stop wings 14, whereinthese features serve at the same time as end stops. There is, however,also the possibility of integrating the spring 4 in the base area ofU-shaped rubber element 3 which engages around the lower edge of thepane and is supported on the profiled guiding section.

FIGS. 3a and 3b show in diagrammatic illustration a variation of theinvention with a clamping axis (formed by the parts or areas 21', 121',and 15' and 10'a, 10'b, 20') which run in the longitudinal axis of theprofiled guiding section 1', thus horizontally. Vertically aligned edges71 of the fixing wing 70, which extends down at the window pane 7, areassociated with the clamping areas 10'a, 10'b, 20'. Apart from theclamping axes being turned by 90 degrees, the profiled guiding section1' corresponds to the profiled guiding section 1 described in FIGS. 1and 2. Also, here the clamping area 10'b is mounted between the guidechannel 11'a and the bearing socket 12' and the other clamping area 10'ais mounted on the opposite end of the profiled guiding section 1'.

It is also possible to use here the spring (spring 4 in FIGS. 1 and 2)which lifts the window pane 7 by a preselected amount and when thewindow pane 7 enters the door frame is deformed until the ideal paneposition is reached. Only then are the tension means (screws 15')tightened.

The variation of the invention of FIG. 4 shows a connecting device withtwo guide areas 11"a, 11"b between which the clamping area 10"b ismounted. The other clamping area 10"a is connected to a slider 9 whichengages positively and movably in a guide rail 8 extending along thedisplacement path of the window pane 7. Thus the kinematics of the panemovement is determined not by the cross arm window lifter but by theguide rail 8. In the uppermost pane position the bolt 120" of the leverarm 6b is located on the left stop of the slide 11"b and is moved in thedirection of the right stop when the window pane 7 is moved into thelower position.

The profiled guiding section can, like the separate clamping jaws, bemade for example of steel as a punched/stamped part. In this case, anelastic material with high coefficient of friction is mounted in the gapbetween the clamping area and clamping jaw and encloses the edge of thepane on both sides in this area. Rubber has proved particularly suitablefor this, for example profiled rubber elements 3 (FIGS. 1 and 2).

The profiled guiding section can however also be formed as a plasticspart wherein at least the clamping areas ought to be formed in theoutset technique in order to be able to transfer the forces which occur.

The embodiments described above refer only to cross-arm window lifters,but a connecting device according to the various embodiments of theinvention can however also be used for a single-arm window lifter. Onlythe already described use of a spring element for the purpose ofautomatically adjusting the window pane in a door frame is not suitablewith a single-arm window lifter.

We claim:
 1. A device for connecting at least one window lifter arm to adisplaceable window pane, having two sides, of a motor vehiclecomprising:a profiled guiding section adapted to be fixed in an area ofan edge of the window pane; a slider, adapted to be fixed to the atleast one window lifter arm swivelling about an axis, mounted fordisplacement in the profiled guiding section; at least two spaced apartclamping areas adapted to rest on one side of the window pane and whichare molded in one piece on the profiled guiding sections; at least twospaced apart stops molded in one piece on the profiled guiding sectionand adapted to enter into engagement with the lower edge of the windowpane during assembly; at least two separate clamping jaws, each of whichrests on the other side of the window pane and is associated with anopposing different one of said at least two clamping areas on theprofiled guiding section; and tension means to tension the clampingareas and the clamping jaws with the window pane; wherein each of the atleast two separate clamping jaws has two supporting points, onesupporting point on one side on the profiled guiding section and theother supporting point on the other side on the window pane, and whereinthe tension means engages between the two supporting points.
 2. Thedevice according to claim 1, wherein the clamping areas of the profiledguiding section protrude over a contour formed by the remaining areas ofthe profiled guiding section above the stops towards the opposingclamping jaws.
 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein each clampingarea of the profiled guiding section has a support bearing of elasticmaterial with a high coefficient of friction relative to the window paneand has a clamping surface that protrudes over a contour formed by theremaining areas of the profiled guiding section.
 4. The device accordingto claim 3 wherein the elastic material comprises rubber.
 5. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the tension means are screws.
 6. Thedevice according to claim 5, wherein a clamping axis is formed by oneset of the supporting points on one side and the other set of supportingpoints on the other side and an engagement point of the tension screw inbetween is aligned substantially vertically wherein the contour of thewindow pane runs substantially horizontally in the clamping area.
 7. Thedevice according to claim 1, wherein a clamping axis formed by one setof the supporting points on one side and the other set of supportingpoints on the other side and an engagement point of the tension screw inbetween is aligned substantially horizontally wherein a contour of thewindow pane in the clamping area runs substantially vertically.
 8. Thedevice according to claim 1, adapted for use with a cross-arm windowlifter having two arms, and further comprising a guide area for a firstone of the two arms and a bearing socket or guide area for a second oneof the two arms, wherein one of the two clamping areas lies between theguide area of the associated end of the lever arm and the bearing socketor the guide area of the associated end of the second lever arm.
 9. Thedevice according to claim 1, wherein the profiled guiding section is apunched or stamped part.
 10. The device according to claim 9, whereinthe profiled guiding section is a steel part.
 11. The device accordingto claim 1, wherein each of the at least two separate clamping jawscomprises a clamping face and a nose and the profiled guiding sectionfurther comprises at least two eyelets, each eyelet adapted to engagethe nose of a different one of the at least two separate clamping jaws,thereby supporting the separate clamping jaw.
 12. The device accordingto claim 11, wherein the two sets of supporting points between eachseparate clamping jaw and the profiled guiding section comprise a firstset of supporting points comprising the clamping face of the separateclamping jaw and the opposing clamping area of the profiled guidingsection, and a second set of supporting points comprising the nose ofthe separate clamping jaw and the eyelet adapted to engage said nose.13. The device of claim 1, further comprising a spring mounted to one ofthe at least two spaced apart stops and adapted to contact the loweredge of the window pane during assembly.
 14. The device of claim 1,wherein the tension means is located below one of the at least twospaced apart stops.
 15. A device for connecting at least one windowlifter arm to a two-sided displaceable window pane in a motor vehicle,comprising:a profiled guiding section adapted to be fixed to one edge ofsuch window pane; a slider slidably mounted in the profiled guidingsection and adapted to be fixed to the at least one window lifter arm;at least two stops molded in the profiled guiding section for engagingsaid one edge of such window pane during assembly; at least two spacedapart clamping areas molded in the profiled guiding section and adaptedto contact one side of the window pane; at least two separate clampingjaws supported on the profiled guiding section, each clamping jaw beingassociated with an opposing different one of said at least two clampingareas, and being adapted to contact the other side of the window pane,the window pane being tensioned between the at least two clamping areasand the at least two clamping jaws; and a fastener connecting eachclamping jaw to the profiled guiding section; wherein each of the atleast two separate clamping laws has two supporting points, onesupporting point on one side on the profiled guiding section and theother supporting point on the other side on the window pane, and whereinthe fastener engages between the two supporting points.
 16. The deviceof claim 15, further comprising a spring mounted to one of the at leasttwo spaced apart stops and adapted to contact the lower edge of thewindow pane during assembly.
 17. The device of claim 15, wherein thefastener is located below one of the at least two spaced apart stops.